A sci-fi masterpiece
with Keeanu Reeves as a messianic freedom fighter who battles
to free the minds of a civilization that literally exists
in a state of programmed virtual reality. A brilliant feat
of cinematic alchemy by combining a visual and technological
feast with an incredibly entertaining story packed with biblical
and literary references, Eastern mysticism, the thrill of
an action packed John Woo film, and ideas from some of the
most imaginative futuristic movies ever made.
"The Matrix" opens
with an amphetamine driven martial arts fight between the
cops and a mysterious leather clad rail thin woman who is
then chased across the rooftops by some government agents
amidst a blaze of firepower. She stops at one jangling telephone
after another before disappearing into thin air. The movie
shifts to a Kafka-like scene out of The Trial. Programmer,
Tom "Neo" Anderson, is nailed by ëthe agentsí for hacking
into their wired world. Heís rescued, plugged in, reborn,
re-educated, and let loose in an alternate world where the
inhabitants expect some kind of Messiah.
Is Tom "Neo" Anderson
THE ONE?
Thereís a John-the-Baptist
inspired character called the Oracle who tells people what
they ëneed to know,í and a crew of disciples with its own
Judas out to free the minds and souls from the Matrix. Their
rebel leader, Morpheus, describes it as "a world that has
been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth."
"The Matrix" is a pop
sci-fi masterpiece that uses its eye-popping images and mind
boggling special effects to grab your attention while relying
on the humanity of its characters to hold it. Keeanu Reeves
transforms Neo from a clueless hacker to a savvy survivor.
Laurence Fishburneís Morpheus waxes philosophical about his
part in the rebellion, while combating the forces of evil
with Messianic zeal. Joe Pantoliano, the Wachowskysí leading
man in "Bound," never fails to deliver as Cypher, Morpheusí
sidekick. Hugo Weaving, from "Priscilla - Queen of the Desert,"
is chilling as the sadistic, not-quite human, Agent Smith,
who will do anything to destroy the rebels. The role of Trinity
could make Carrie-Anne Morse an action star. She gives her
the elusive quality of a cat burglar, moving with the grace
of a cheetah and the speed of an electrode. And she can kick
butt with the best of them!
"The Matrix" is an
organic piece of movie magic that never sacrifices the story
for the hardware.
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